Assessment of the Cooperative Education Program in Relationship

Assessment of the Cooperative Education Program in Relationship to the Program Outcomes of the Undergraduate Nursing and UHM Cooperative Education Programs by Dianne N. Ishida, Ph. D, APRN Arleen A. Fujimoto-Ikuma, MSW

The purpose of the assessment was to determine how well the baccalaureate nursing graduates met the End of Program Outcomes as they transitioned into their first RN position.

An important objective of the UHM Cooperative Education Program is to provide paid career-related experience that will help ease the transition from student to professional.

The study seeks to: u Assess how the undergraduate program impacts student’s transition to their first RN position u Assess the achievement of the program’s outcomes, particularly the practice outcomes u Determine if there are differences between the undergraduate students who participated in Nursing Cooperative Education Program & those who did not u Provide specific feedback from students on what courses helped their transition and their recommendations

Methodology u Survey graduates 6 months after graduation – Time when most should have taken licensing examination , passed, and have started their jobs for a few months – Time when school preparation and transition to the work world is fresh and important to grads u Self-addressed envelopes were coded to determine if FU calls, 2 nd mailing was necessary – coded envelops were destroyed prior to viewing each class results

Baccalaureate Nursing Program Outcomes u Provider of Care u Coordinator of Care u Member of the Profession u Knowledge Developer

Provider of Care u Engage in professional nursing practice as a generalist for individuals, families, groups and community in a variety of settings. u Use critical thinking skills as a basis for making judgments for generalist nursing practice. u Provide culturally competent nursing care.

Provider of Care u. Engage in professional nursing u. Able to care for groups of practice as a generalist for patients/clients. individuals, families, groups and u. Able to do technical skills community in a variety of settings. u. Use critical thinking skills as a basis for making judgments for generalist nursing practice. u. Able to problem solve clinical situations. u. Able to make clinical decisions u. Able to determine clinical priorities. u. Provide culturally competent nursing care. u. Able to care for clients in a culturally competent manner.

Coordinator of Care u. Use beginning leadership and management skills to coordinate the delivery of quality nursing care u. Able to work with ancillary nursing personnel. u. Able to communicate with others. u. Able to organize care to patients. u. Collaborate with individuals, groups, communities, colleagues and interdisciplinary health members to coordinate the delivery of care. u. Able to collaborate with other professionals.

Member of the Profession u. Demonstrate accountability for generalist legal scope of practice, professional standards of practice and professional code of ethics. u. Able to seek help appropriately. u. Able to be accountable for own actions/practice

Survey u Student Background Demographic – including if took Cooperative Education u Practice Outcomes of End of Program – with a Likert rating scale of 1 to 5 1 = poor 2 = marginal 3 = average 4 = good 5 = excellent

Survey u I felt the BS program prepared me for my first RN job: u I felt that my transition from nursing student to my first RN job was: 1 = Difficult 5 = Easy u Rated top 3 courses which help most in & how Prepare for first RN position Develop self-confidence as a nurse Transition into your RN position u Open Ended Questions for specific recommendations: Ease transition into your first RN position Improve the undergraduate program

Results u Class of December of 2000 and May 2001 surveyed with 56% returned for an sample of 33: – 16 Cooperative Education students – 17 Non-cooperative Education students u Student mean scores ranged from 3. 7 (ability to solve clinical situations) to 4. 43 (care for clients in a culturally competent manner) u I felt the BS program prepared me for my first RN job : 4. 04 (4=good) u I felt my transition from a student to RN was: 3. 76

Results u Group Comparisons – very close – Coop students rated themselves higher on 4/6 Provider of Care items than non-Coops – Coops had a higher mean score for Organizing Care and seeking help appropriately u Student Recommendations are still being compiled: – General want more direct care or clinical

Course prepared you for your RN job Adult Health I Pediatrics Complex Nursing Practice Cooperative education Maternity Adult Health II Fundamentals Health Assessment

Course developed self-confidence Maternity Adult Health I Cooperative education Pediatrics Complex Nursing Practice Adult Health II Health Assessment Fundamentals

Transition into your RN position Fundamentals Health Assessment Pediatrics Adult Health I Complex Nursing Practice Adult Health II Cooperative education

Progress u On going data collection for larger sample size to compare cooperative education with non-cooperative education students u Noted no mean scores below 3. 5 benchmark u Collected Class of December 2001 u Mailing out for Class of May 2002